I guess this means that the media must be dominated by conservative liars, since we keep getting reports about substandard care and needless deaths (see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here).

And the Boston Globe and Associated Press must be part of this vast right-wing conspiracy, because the Globe just ran an AP report exposing more problems in England. Here is an excerpt.

When David Evans needed a hernia operation, the 69-year-old farmer became so alarmed by the long wait that he used an ultrasound machine for pregnant sheep on himself, to make sure he wasnt getting worse. It was only after repeated calls from himself, his doctor and his local member of parliament that the hospital performed the surgery, nearly a year after it was first requested. Under government guidelines, he should have started getting treatment within 18 weeks. I was in quite a lot of pain, Evans said of his ordeal in Cornwall, southwest England. It really restricted what I could do around the farm since I couldnt lift anything heavy. Across Britain, an increasing number of patients like Evans are facing more pain and longer waits.

Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco is retiring Friday, but only so she can collect a $478,057 pension check and return to work Monday, when she will be sworn in for her seventh term. Tasco was one of six Council members to enroll in the citys controversial Deferred Retirement Option Plan, better known as DROP. She did not immediately return a request for comment. When DROP was introduced during the Rendell administration, it was thought that it would cost little or nothing. But a study by the administration of Mayor Nutter said DROP had cost the city $258 million over 10 years.

‘Paul Krugman has told us that awful stories about government-run healthcare in Britain are false.’

No they’re not. As a chronic sufferer of several digestive diseases, I’m on discussion fora a lot. Many foreigners are there for support, too. Some of them go off on tirades about how they are put off forever getting tests, new doctors, etc. Some of them tell us how it is, then say they’re satisfied even though to me it looks like a cruddy deal (kind of like Wal-Mart shoppers being satisfied since they’re used to being treated like criminals whereas they’ve never been to Nordstrom).

It needs to be emphasized that in Britain, if you are willing to pay a private doctor for health care, you can. So those who suffer most are the poor, or those unwilling to spend their own money after paying high taxes for health care. Also, if you use a private doctor, you may lose your access to the NHS.

Though the rot in the NHS is bad, a far worse situation exists in Canada where you must leave the country to get good, private health care, as the government does not permit the private alternative in the country. While Britain is a disaster, Canada will be a worse disaster in the long run. It only looks better right now because so many Canadians cross the border for their medical needs.

a far worse situation exists in Canada where you must leave the country to get good, private health care ...My son's brother-in-law is a doctor and spent a year in Vancouver, BC on a Fellowship. His comments can be boiled down to - it really is worse than we hear.

” (Philadelphia) Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco is retiring Friday, but only so she can collect a $478,057 pension check and return to work Monday, when she will be sworn in for her seventh term. Tasco was one of six Council members to enroll in the citys controversial Deferred Retirement Option Plan, better known as DROP. She did not immediately return a request for comment. When DROP was introduced during the Rendell administration, it was thought that it would cost little or nothing. But a study by the administration of Mayor Nutter said DROP had cost the city $258 million over 10 years.”

Just another crooked Black Politician ripping off her “people.” But she has to get in line behind the Black superintendent of public schools in Pittsburgh who just took nearly a million dollar “buyout” of her contract to get rid of her, and then had the temerity to file for unemployment benefits!

But she has to get in line behind the Black superintendent of public schools in Pittsburgh who just took nearly a million dollar buyout of her contract to get rid of her, and then had the temerity to file for unemployment benefits!

Nordstrom is class as far as I have ever experienced (2 different stores regularly). They look out for you, help you, are very nice, and don’t get in your way at the same time. They also refund/exchange, no questions asked. Service as nothing I’ve ever experienced. Meanwhile, the suspicious policies and the grumps and mugwumps at cheap (”big box”) places - well, you get what you pay for.

I don’t see it that way at all. Wal-Mart as well as others are generally rude, ignorant and careless, signs of our society in general today and their lackadaisical attitude. They hassle you for not having a reciept (try that there), and you have to go to a counter rather than just anywhere. I go there naturally just to go in and get general merchandise - sometimes even for cheap, when I know there’s not likely to be a problem. The nicest person is the greeter, and randomly the cashiers (like any other place).

Nordstrom is high quality and that includes their service. And I don’t need to dress up (like my sister) to get good service; just walk in a department. They give us the shirt off their backs, and it’s not because we/they are “snobs”. Maybe you have trouble in MI but I don’t near home.

You can also compare the average McDonald’s and Chick-Fil-A. CFA is not a “snob” place by any means, but they are vastly superior in service and smiles (never mind the food) to any other fast-food place.

BTW, I agree about children’s just in principle. I do buy a couple things at high-end places but mostly I go to Wal-Mart (prefer Target, their toddler/baby area is so much better) for children’s clothes and SHOES. I guess the Babies-R-Us place is reasonable, too, but sometimes the cheapest is at WM/Target.

A friend of mine is a Canadian immigrant. A few years ago, her mother, a Canadian citizen, was diagnosed with colon cancer. Due to her age (late 70’s), she was given painkillers rather than surgery and radiation/chemo. Needless to say, the sweet woman is no longer with us. Man that “free” healthcare is great!

"Just another crooked Black Politician ripping off her people. But she has to get in line behind the Black superintendent of public schools in Pittsburgh who just took nearly a million dollar buyout of her contract to get rid of her, and then had the temerity to file for unemployment benefits! "

I'm sorry to say that this "public servant" is also in Philadelphia, rather than Pittsburgh. (Arlene Ackerman)

Another example for me is Saks 5th Ave. My mother loved that place (maybe it was better in the old days). I appreciate it too, but the few times (admittedly, not a good sample) I’ve been to both NY and Baltimore stores, incidences of condescension occurred.

While I haven’t been to Saks nearly as much as Nordstrom (not much opportunity), and I don’t totally despise it, Saks showed more “snobby” behavior than I’ve ever experienced (0) at Nordstrom. (And you can bet when we vaca’d in NYC I’m dressed well and done up.)

“Idiot” has an interesting etymology, it’s from the greek, “idiotes,” which means a commoner, or someone with no special knowledge or social standing. Hence ( we may infer ) someone who can be safely ignored. “Who was that?” “Just some idiot.”

G’Day - and as we say DnUnDa - no wurries, mate. Haven’t watched it yet but my favorite Aussie movie is “Quigley Down Under”. I’ve been to Silverton and Broken Hill where the first two Mad Max/Road Warrior movies were made.

40
posted on 01/01/2012 12:21:58 PM PST
by SkyDancer
("If You Want To Learn To Love Better, You Should Start With A Friend Who You Hate")

The BBC site runs many stories about what’s becoming a “two-tier” National Health Service (NHS). This means more privately paid-for care...(apparently anyone who can afford to do so is opting out of NHS).

Last week I read that those over 75 no longer get joint replacements and cataract surgeries unless they can pay themselves. We could argue all day about whether government SHOULD pay for health care; nevertheless dropping essential services to patients who have counted on NHS all their lives is rather nasty.

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